DENVER – On Friday, Governor Jared Polis announced that access to the COVID-19 vaccine would be expanded from February 8, leaving some Coloradans still waiting to receive the vaccine in question.
“I want all people 70 and older to be vaccinated for the rest of us, for me.” Marti Demarest said.
Demarest was one of several people who emailed Denver7 after Polis’s announcement on Friday.
“Can you make sure everyone over 70 is vaccinated before opening it up to young people?” Demarest said while holding back tears.
Demarest said she has been trying to give her 91-year-old father a COVID-19 vaccine since December.
“It makes me angry, very frustrated, because my husband signed up for a vaccination with UCHealth on Sunday, but I can’t get my father,” said Demarest. “I watch King Soopers and Safeway, SEL Health Clinic, Banner, UCHealth and Kaiser every day, but I can’t get back any information about where he’s on a list, and that’s the frustrating part.”
Extended admission begins Feb. 8 and includes all Coloradans aged 65-69, educators and childcare workers.
The state is still in the process of vaccinating at least 70% of people over 70 by the end of February, Polis said Friday. In response to questions about the expanded eligibility and how it would affect those currently waiting for the vaccine, Polis said the distribution of vaccines needs to be expanded to take advantage of the offer.
“It’s really important to open it up before you hit 70%. If you wait that long, you have a two or three week period where you just don’t give as many doses as you get because there aren’t enough. you find those that meet those strict criteria to do it, ”said Polis.
He also added that by the time eligibility increases, the state hopes that at least half of Colorado’s over 70s have been vaccinated.
“Some are still signed up and waiting. When you’re 70 years old, you’ve got friends, parents, loved ones, who – they’ll get that for the next few weeks,” Polis said.
The Governor’s Office referred Denver7 to this document with additional questions they received about the new timeline.
Demarest said she tries to stay optimistic about her father getting a vaccine.
“I’m not going to have one until my dad has one at all,” said Demarest.